Handheld electronic device including automatic selection of input language, and associated method

ABSTRACT

A method of automatically establishing an input language for a handheld electronic device includes receiving a request to initiate the composition of a new message, receiving a selection of a particular contact that is the intended recipient of the message, and determining whether the particular contact has a stored preferred input language. If a preferred input language is stored, the method includes determining whether the preferred input language is different than the current input language (which may be a pre-established default input language). If the preferred input language is different, the method further includes switching the current input language to the preferred input language. Also provided is an improved handheld electronic device having one or more routines adapted to implement the method. Also provided is a method of indicating a preferred language in association with a call received by or placed to the device.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The embodiments described herein relate generally to handheld electronicdevices and, more particularly, to a handheld electronic device andassociated method that provides for the automatic selection of an inputlanguage based upon a particular selected contact.

2. Description of the Related Art

Numerous types of handheld electronic devices are known. Examples ofsuch handheld electronic devices include, for instance, personal dataassistants (PDAs), handheld computers, two-way pagers, cellulartelephones, and the like. Many handheld electronic devices include andprovide access to a wide range of integrated applications, including,without limitation, email, telephone, short message service (SMS),multimedia messaging service (MMS), browser, calendar and address bookapplications, such that a user can easily manage information andcommunications from a single, integrated device. These applications aretypically selectively accessible and executable through a user interfacethat allows a user to easily navigate among and within theseapplications.

Such handheld electronic devices typically include a number of toolsthat facilitate the input of text information, such as when a user iscomposing an email message. For example, many handheld electronicdevices include spell checking and/or grammar checking functionalitythat help users to correct spelling and/or grammar errors made by theuser while inputting text. In addition, handheld electronic devices aregenerally intended to be portable, and thus efforts have been made toprovide handheld electronic devices with progressively smaller formfactors. One way in which to reduce the form factor of handheldelectronic devices is to provide a “reduced keyboard” in which multipleletters, symbols, and/or digits are assigned to any given key (e.g., areduced QWERTY keyboard). Since a single actuation of a key in a“reduced keyboard” potentially could be intended by the user to refer toany of the symbols thereon, the input (by actuation of the key)generally is an ambiguous input and is in need of some type ofdisambiguation in order to be useful for text entry purposes. Numerouskeystroke interpretation systems have been proposed for this purpose, anexample of which is a software-based text disambiguation function. Insuch a system, a user typically presses keys to which one or morecharacters have been assigned, generally pressing each key one time foreach desired letter, symbol, or digit, and the disambiguation softwareattempts to predict the intended input. One example of such a system isdisclosed in commonly owned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/931,281,entitled “Handheld Electronic Device with Text Disambiguation.”

As will be appreciated, spell and grammar checking systems andsoftware-based text disambiguation systems are language dependent. Sinceit is possible that users of handheld electronic devices may want tocommunicate, and thus input text, in a number of different languages,many handheld electronic devices are provided with spell and grammarchecking systems and/or software-based text disambiguation systems thatfacilitate the entry of text in different languages. In order tofacilitate the selective use of different languages, handheld electronicdevices are typically provided with a language mode selection optionwherein a user selects the current input language for the device, andthereafter all text input is in the chosen language and the spell andgrammar checking system and/or software-based text disambiguation systemof the handheld electronic device will function accordingly. As will beappreciated, users typically communicate with a given contact in aparticular language. Thus, if a user desires to send an email message toa contact that speaks French, the user can place the handheld electronicdevice in the French language mode, and then begin composing a new emailmessage in French. This is typically done by accessing an options menuand selecting or inputting the desired language.

The approach just described presents a number of problems. First, itrequires a number of affirmative steps prior to composing the new emailmessage, which the user may either initially forget to perform (the userwill, for example, begin inputting text in French while the device isstill in the English language mode) or which, in the least, are timeconsuming and inconvenient. Also, when the user is finished composingthe message, he or she must take additional affirmative steps to switchthe language mode back to the desired normal (default) mode that theuser prefers. Again, these steps are time consuming and inconvenient,and, in some cases, the user may forget to perform them such that thenext time the desires to input text, the device will still be in thepreviously selected, non-default language mode. Thus, there is a needfor a system for automatically selecting an input language for ahandheld electronic device that eliminates these problems.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A full understanding of the invention can be gained from the followingDescription of the Preferred Embodiment when read in conjunction withthe accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a front view of an improved handheld electronic deviceaccording to one embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the handheld electronic device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a “new contact” screen that is provided on the display ofthe handheld electronic device of FIG. 1 that enables the entry ofinformation for a new contact in the address book application of thehandheld electronic device of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a flow chart of a method according to one embodiment forproviding for the automatic selection of an input language for thehandheld electronic device of FIG. 1 based upon a particular selectedcontact stored by the address book application of the handheldelectronic device of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A method of automatically establishing an input language for a handheldelectronic device that stores contact information for a plurality ofcontacts is provided. The method includes receiving a request toinitiate the composition of a new message, such as an email, SMS or MMSmessage, receiving a selection of a particular contact that is theintended recipient of the message, and determining whether theparticular contact has a preferred input language stored by saidhandheld electronic device in connection therewith. If a preferred inputlanguage is stored, the method includes determining whether thepreferred input language is different than the current input language(which may be a pre-established default input language) of the handheldelectronic device. If the preferred input language is different, themethod further includes switching the current input language to thepreferred input language. Preferably, a visual indicator is providedthat indicates that a language switch has occurred. The step ofreceiving a request may be performed before or after the step ofreceiving a selection. The method may include switching the currentinput language back to the default input language after the compositionof the message is completed. Also provided is an improved handheldelectronic device having one or more routines adapted to implement themethod described above.

An embodiment of an improved handheld electronic device 4 is depictedgenerally in FIGS. 1 and 2. The handheld electronic device 4 includes ahousing 8, a display 12, an input apparatus 16, and a processor 20 (FIG.2) which may be, without limitation, a microprocessor (μP). Theprocessor 20 is responsive to inputs received from the input apparatus16 and provides outputs to the display 12. Examples of handheldelectronic devices are included in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,452,588 and6,489,950. The handheld electronic device 4 may be of a type thatincludes tools that facilitate the input of text information, such as,for example, a spell and grammar checking system or a software-basedtext disambiguation system. This is not, however, necessary, as thepresent concept may be used in any text input mode. As will be describedin greater detail below, the handheld electronic device 4 provides forthe automatic selection of an input language based upon a particularselected contact.

As can be understood from FIG. 1, the input apparatus 16 includes akeyboard 24 having a plurality of keys 26, and a rotatable trackwheel28. As used herein, the expression “key” and variations thereof shallrefer broadly to any of a variety of input members such as buttons,switches, and the like without limitation. The keys 26 and the rotatabletrackwheel 28 are input members of the input apparatus 16, and each ofthe input members has a function assigned thereto. Keys 26 include a<SEND> key 30 and an <END> key 32 for initiating and terminating phonecalls. The keys 30, 32 may include suitable text and/or graphics (asshown) disposed (e.g., printed) thereon.

As is shown in FIG. 2, the processor 20 is in electronic communicationwith a memory 44. The memory 44 can be any of a variety of types ofinternal and/or external storage media such as, without limitation, RAM,ROM, EPROM(s), EEPROM(s), and the like, that provide a storage registerfor data storage such as in the fashion of an internal storage area of acomputer, and can be volatile memory or nonvolatile memory. The memory44 further includes a number of routines executable by the processor 20for the processing of data. The routines can be in any of a variety offorms such as, without limitation, software, firmware, and the like, andmay include one or more subroutines, processes, procedures, functioncalls or the like, alone or in combination. The routines preferablyinclude a software-based text disambiguation function as describedelsewhere herein as an application. The software-based textdisambiguation function may, in one embodiment, be as described incommonly owned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/931,281, entitled“Handheld Electronic Device with Text Disambiguation.” In addition, theroutines also preferably include a spell and grammar checking system,such as those that are well known in the art.

As is also shown in FIG. 2, the processor 20 is in electroniccommunication with a communications subsystem 45. Communicationsfunctions for handheld electronic device 4, including data and voicecommunications, are performed through the communications subsystem 45.The communications subsystem 45 includes a transmitter and a receiver(possibly combined in a single transceiver component) and one or moreantennas. Other known components, such as a digital signal processor anda local oscillator, may also be part of communications subsystem 45. Thespecific design and implementation of the communications subsystem 45 isdependent upon the communications network in which the handheldelectronic device 4 is intended to operate. For example, the handheldelectronic device 4 may include a communications subsystem 45 designedto operate with the Mobitex™, Dat TAC™ or General Packet Radio Service(GPRS) mobile data communication networks and also designed to operatewith any of a variety of voice communications networks, such as AMPS,TDMA, CDMA, PCS, GSM, and other suitable networks. Other types of dataand voice networks, both separate and integrated, may also be utilizedwith the handheld electronic device 4.

In FIG. 1, the display 12 is depicted as displaying a home screen 43that includes a number of applications depicted as discrete icons 46(stored in the memory 44 and executable by the processor 20), includingan icon representing a phone application 48, an address book application50 for storing information for a plurality of contacts, a messagingapplication 52 which includes email, SMS and MMS applications, acalendar application 54, a memo application 56 for enabling a user tocreate documents and to record notes, lists and the like, a taskapplication 58 for enabling a user to create and manage lists of tasks,and a browser application 60 for accessing and navigating the Internet.

In FIG. 1, the home screen 43 is currently active and would constitute aportion of an application. In addition, the display 12 shown in FIG. 1shows a dialog box 62 that indicates that there is currently a phonecall coming into the handheld electronic device 4. Dialog box 62provides certain information relating to the incoming call, including,for example, the caller's phone number and identifying information ifthe caller and phone number are stored as a contact by address bookapplication 50 of handheld electronic device 4. Other applications, suchas phone application 48, address book application 50, messagingapplication 52, calendar application 54, memo application 56, taskapplication 58 or browser application 60, can be initiated from the homescreen 43 by providing an input through the input apparatus 16, such asby rotating the trackwheel 28 and providing a selection input bytranslating the trackwheel 28 in the direction indicated by the arrow 64in FIG. 1.

As is known in the art, the address book application 50 allows the userof the handheld electronic device 4 to store contact related informationfor a number of contacts. That information is normally stored in anumber of data fields and may include, among other things, a salutationto be used for the contact and the contact's first name, last name,email address, company name, title, work phone number, home phonenumber, mobile phone number, fax number, pager number, address (oftenbroken into two fields), city, state/province, ZIP/postal code, andcountry name. In addition, in the embodiments described herein, thecontact related information that may be stored includes a preferredinput language for the particular contact. For example, if the contactis French and prefers to communicate in the French language, a user ofthe handheld electronic device 4 may store French as the preferred inputlanguage in a preferred language data field. FIG. 3 shows a “newcontact” screen 75 that is provided by the processor 20 on display 12that enables the entry of information in particular fields 80 usinginput apparatus 16, including a preferred language data field 85.Alternatively, a similar “edit contact” screen may be utilized to editand or add information for existing contacts, including information tobe stored in the preferred language data field. The manner in which theinformation stored in the preferred language data field is used in thepresent embodiments is described below in connection with FIG. 4.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart of a method according to one embodiment forproviding for the automatic selection of an input language based upon aparticular selected contact stored by the address book application 50.One or more particular routines that implement the method as generallydescribed are preferably stored in memory 44 and are executable byprocessor 20. The method begins at step 100, wherein a determination ismade as to whether a user of the handheld electronic device 4 hasinitiated the composition of a new message, such as an email, SMS or MMSmessage, and has selected a particular contact stored by the addressbook application 50 as the recipient of the message. This may be done,for example, by entering a contact's name in the “To” field of an emailmessage. Next, at step 105, a determination is made as to whether theselected contact has a preferred input language that has been stored inthe preferred language data field for that contact. If the answer is no,then the method proceeds to step 120, wherein the user is allowed tocompose the message.

If, however, the answer at step 105 is yes, then at step 110, adetermination is made as to whether the preferred input language for theselected contact is different than the default input languageestablished for the handheld electronic device 4. If the answer is no,then the method proceeds to step 120. If the answer at step 110 is yes,then, at step 115, the input language for the handheld electronic device4 is switched to the preferred input language for the selected contact.For example, if the default input language for the handheld electronicdevice 4 is English, and the preferred input language for the selectedcontact is French, the input language for the handheld electronic devicewill be switched from English to French. Next, at step 120, the user isallowed to compose the new message. The user will at this point inputtext in the appropriate language (optionally, a pop-up dialog box may beprovided on the display 12 to remind the user of the current inputlanguage; other indications may also be provided, such as a voicereminder). During this text input, the spell and grammar checking systemand the software-based text disambiguation, if included, will beautomatically set to function in a mode corresponding to the currentinput language of the handheld electronic device 4, i.e., the defaultinput language or the preferred input language of the selected contact,whichever the case may be.

At step 125, a determination is made as to whether the messagecomposition is complete. If not, then the method returns to step 125 andeffectively waits for the message composition to be completed. When itis complete (i.e., a yes answer at step 125), the method proceeds tostep 130. At step 130, a determination is made as to whether the currentinput language of the handheld electronic device 4 is the same as theestablished default input language for the handheld electronic device 4.If the answer is yes, meaning that the input language was not previouslyswitched, then the method ends. If the answer is no, meaning that theinput language was previously switched to a preferred input language ofa selected contact, then, at step 135, the current input language of thehandheld electronic device 4 is switched back to the established defaultinput language, and thereafter the method ends (optionally, a pup-updialog box may be provided on the display 12 to remind the user of thecurrent input language, i.e., the default input language; otherindications may also be provided, such as a voice reminder). Thus, aswill be appreciated, the method shown in FIG. 4 eliminates the problemsassociated with prior art multi-language capable devices byautomatically setting the input language to a pre-established preferredinput language for a particular selected contact.

The concept described herein is not limited to the creation of newmessages to be sent to a selected contact. As an alternative, the samemethod may be used when replying to a message previously received from aparticular contact in the address book application if that contact has apreferred input language.

According to a further aspect of the concept described herein, if two ormore contacts are selected that each have a different preferred inputlanguage, or if a reply is being generated to a message that will besent to two or more contacts that each have a different preferred inputlanguage (e.g., in a “reply to all” mode), a dialog box is provided onthe display 12 of the handheld electronic device 4 that lists eachcontact and their preferred input language. The user may then select,preferably in response to a prompt provided in the dialog box, whichinput language they wish to use for the message.

According to yet a further aspect of the concept described herein, whena user places a call to or receives a call from a contact in the addressbook application, a determination is made as to whether that contact hasa preferred input language specified. If the contact does have apreferred input language, a pop-up window is provided on the display 12of the handheld electronic device 4 that specifies the preferredlanguage (see, for example, FIG. 1). Alternatively, an audible indicator(e.g., synthesized voice) of the preferred language may be providedinstead of or in addition to the pop-up window. As a result, the userwill be reminded that he or she should initiate or answer the phonecall, whichever the case may be, in the preferred language. This may behelpful to, for example, a salesperson to improve a relationship with acustomer that speaks a language other than the native language of thesalesperson.

While preferred embodiments have been described and illustrated above,it should be understood that these are exemplary and are not to beconsidered as limiting. Additions, deletions, substitutions, and othermodifications can be made without departing from the spirit or scopehereof. Accordingly, the invention is not to be considered as limited bythe foregoing description but is only limited by the scope of theappended claims.

1. A method of automatically establishing an input language for ahandheld electronic device (4) that stores contact information for aplurality of contacts, comprising: receiving a request to initiate thecomposition of a new message to a particular one of said contacts, saidparticular one of said contacts being an intended recipient of saidmessage; determining whether said particular one of said contacts has apreferred input language stored by said handheld electronic device (4)in connection therewith; if it is determined said particular one of saidcontacts has a preferred input language stored by said handheldelectronic device (4) in connection therewith, determining whether saidpreferred input language is different than a current input language ofsaid handheld electronic device (4); and if it is determined that thepreferred input language is different than the current input language,switching the current input language of said handheld electronic device(4) to said preferred input language.
 2. The method according to claim1, wherein said receiving step further comprises receiving a selectionof said particular one of said contacts.
 3. The method according toclaim 1, wherein said receiving step comprises creating a reply to amessage received from said particular one of said contacts.
 4. Themethod according to claim 2, wherein said step of receiving a request isperformed prior to said step of receiving a selection.
 5. The methodaccording to claim 2, wherein said step of receiving a selection isperformed prior to said step of receiving a request.
 6. The methodaccording to claim 1, wherein prior to said switching step said currentinput language is an established default input language for saidhandheld electronic device (4).
 7. The method according to claim 6,wherein following said switching step the method further comprisesdetermining whether the composition of said message is complete, and ifthe composition of said message is complete, switching said currentinput language of said handheld electronic device (4) back to saiddefault input language.
 8. The method according to claim 1, furthercomprising providing an indication of the current input language to auser of said handheld electronic device (4) following said switchingstep.
 9. The method according to claim 1, wherein said message is one ofan email message, an SMS message and an MMS message.
 10. A handheldelectronic device (4), comprising: a processor (20); a memory (44) inelectronic communication with said processor (20), said memory (44)storing an address book application (50) executable by said processor(44) for storing contact information for a plurality of contacts, saidmemory (44) further storing one or more routines executable by saidprocessor (20), said one or more routines being adapted to: receive arequest to initiate the composition of a new message to a particular oneof said contacts, said particular one of said contacts being an intendedrecipient of said message; determine whether said particular one of saidcontacts has a preferred input language stored by said address bookapplication (50) in connection therewith; if it is determined saidparticular one of said contacts has a preferred input language stored bysaid address book application (50) in connection therewith, determinewhether said preferred input language is different than a current inputlanguage of said handheld electronic device (4); and if it is determinedthat the preferred input language is different than the current inputlanguage, switch the current input language of said handheld electronicdevice (4) to said preferred input language.
 11. The handheld electronicdevice according to claim 10, wherein said one or more routines arefurther adapted to receive a selection of said particular one of saidcontacts.
 12. The handheld electronic device according to claim 10,wherein said request to initiate the composition of a new messagecomprises a request to create a reply to a message received from saidparticular one of said contacts.
 13. The handheld electronic device (4)according to claim 11, wherein said request is received prior to saidselection.
 14. The handheld electronic device (4) according to claim 11,wherein said selection is received prior to said request.
 15. Thehandheld electronic device according (4) to claim 10, wherein prior tothe current input language being switched to said preferred inputlanguage, the current input language is an established default inputlanguage for said handheld electronic device (4).
 16. The handheldelectronic device (4) according to claim 15, wherein after the currentinput language of said handheld electronic device (4) is switched tosaid preferred input language, the routines are adapted to determinewhether the composition of said message is complete, and if thecomposition of said message is complete, the routines are adapted toswitch the current input language of said handheld electronic device (4)back to said default input language.
 17. The handheld electronic device(4) according to claim 11, wherein the routines are further adapted toprovide an indication of the current input language to a user of saidhandheld electronic device (4) after the current input language has beenswitched.
 18. The handheld electronic device (4) according to claim 17,further comprising a display (12), wherein said indication is providedon said display (12).
 19. The handheld electronic device (4) accordingto claim 17, wherein said indication is provided audibly.
 20. Thehandheld electronic device (4) according to claim 11, wherein saidmessage is one of an email message, and SMS message and an MMS message.21. A method of operating a handheld electronic device that storescontact information for a plurality of contacts, comprising: detecting aphone call either placed by or received by said handheld electronicdevice, said phone call being associated with a particular one of saidcontacts; determining whether said particular one of said contacts has apreferred language stored by said handheld electronic device; and if itis determined that said particular one of said contacts has a preferredlanguage, providing an indication of said preferred language to a userof said handheld electronic device.
 22. The method according to claim21, wherein said indication is provided visually on a display of saidhandheld electronic device.
 23. The method according to claim 21,wherein said indication is provided audibly.